As President, [[Thomas Jefferson]] did not participate in the later tradition of keeping '''gifts from foreign dignitaries.''' He had a strict policy of not excepting valuable gifts.

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As President of the United States, [[Thomas Jefferson]] maintained a strict policy of not excepting valuable '''gifts from foreign dignitaries.'''

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He writes, "I had laid it down as a law for my conduct while in office, and hitherto scrupulously observed to accept of no present beyond a book, a pamphlet or other curiosity of minor value; as well to avoid imputation on my motives of action as to shut out a practice susceptible to such abuse."<ref>Jefferson to Levett Harris. April 18, 1806. [[Short Title List|L&B,]] 11:101.</ref>

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He wrote in 1806, "I had laid it down as a law for my conduct while in office, and hitherto scrupulously observed to accept of no present beyond a book, a pamphlet or other curiosity of minor value; as well to avoid imputation on my motives of action as to shut out a practice susceptible to such abuse."<ref>Jefferson to Levett Harris. April 18, 1806. [[Short Title List|L&B,]] 11:101.</ref>

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For example, in 1805, the Tunisian ambassador gave Jefferson some Arabian horses. Jefferson sold them at a public auction to offset the cost of the ambassador's visit.

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In one famous incident in 1805, the Tunisian ambassador gave Jefferson several Arabian horses. Jefferson later sold the horses at a public auction to offset the cost of the ambassador's visit.

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However, he was human and he did make an exception in one instance. In Russia, tradition held the importance of giving gifts, and the Russian government gave the American consul, Mr. Harris, a [[Alexander I Bust|bust of Alexander I]]. Mr. Harris in turn gave this bust to Jefferson in 1806. One possible explanation for Jefferson's accepting the gift is that he thought it was from Mr. Harris himself rather than the Russian government. Also, he was an admirer of Alexander and may not have wished to turn it down. The bust remains at Monticello today.

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However, Jefferson is known to have made an exception to his policy in at least one instance. In 1806, the Russian government gave the American consul, Levett Harris, a [[Alexander I Bust|bust of Tsar Alexander I]]. Mr. Harris in turn gave this bust to Jefferson. In explaining his departure from his own rule, Jefferson cited his "particular esteem" for the Tsar. The bust can be seen at Monticello today.

==Footnotes==

==Footnotes==

Revision as of 10:50, 5 March 2009

As President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson maintained a strict policy of not excepting valuable gifts from foreign dignitaries.

He wrote in 1806, "I had laid it down as a law for my conduct while in office, and hitherto scrupulously observed to accept of no present beyond a book, a pamphlet or other curiosity of minor value; as well to avoid imputation on my motives of action as to shut out a practice susceptible to such abuse."[1]

In one famous incident in 1805, the Tunisian ambassador gave Jefferson several Arabian horses. Jefferson later sold the horses at a public auction to offset the cost of the ambassador's visit.

However, Jefferson is known to have made an exception to his policy in at least one instance. In 1806, the Russian government gave the American consul, Levett Harris, a bust of Tsar Alexander I. Mr. Harris in turn gave this bust to Jefferson. In explaining his departure from his own rule, Jefferson cited his "particular esteem" for the Tsar. The bust can be seen at Monticello today.